I've done the Tail several times. Always a blast and gives me a pretty high pucker factor. Both floorboards are pretty scarred from the scraping. But the ride up from Atlanta thru the North Georgia mountains is pretty damn good too. Just not as many turns in such a short distance. But plenty of turns nonethe less Anyone wanting to ride the Tail or N. Ga. give me shout. I'll be glad to ride with you if I can get away from work.

Two Wheel Inn
A motorcycle hotel
unable to sleep, here I type.
March 12, 2006

I rode the tail today. Two years of waiting, looking foraward to, actual dreams of this road.
Tearing up for the second time on this trip, I was about 5 miles from the
road - I knew it was dead ahead of me - here it comes.

I couldn't say anything for maybe 5 minutes after my first pass.
The expression on my first said everything so the other riders I bumped into at the gap just smiled right back: there are no right words anyway.

Seeing that first hairpin raised the hairs on my bare forearms. The first bump-scrape of my peg had me sitting
upright instantly.
Got stuck behind a car little later and peeled off at seeing "KILLBOY" lettered on the side of a car.

My second pass I scraped both pegs all the way around several curves. At KILLBOY corner I decided to try a photo
worthy stunt.
I dropped into what I thought was second to drop into the turn but I was already in second. Not having a slip-clutch, the rear locked up and gittered
me sides - with the front tireriding the white paint and rear sliding on the yellow.
True to my nature I looked back to see if anyone was watching and THEN gunned it into the turn to stay up right.

I lost my nerve 15 seconds later. To finish the run I started shouting at myself to "watch the god-**** line, Dave".
"This is third gear, I am in third, I will drop into second on that hash mark." "Watch the line, look a the line..."
and so it went for the last few miles.

My third pass I scraped both sides all the way around, played cat and mouse with a yelow rocket until seeing my break and shot up the road to get my front just ahead of him, shot him a smile and dropped back.
Again, I pullout at KIllboy
to thank him for his work and then jump back on the tail.
I caught the black car way to quickly. Three turns later there's my opening and I take it easily smoking him and
vanish into the turn.

This motorbike is not made for anything. Not a cornering bike, not a highway cruiser, not a bar hopper, not made for anything well.
I ruined both floor boards...but it was worth it.
This stretch of road just brought me back up to speed and taught me two new lessons about myself.

Been there, done that. One Awesome ride, even on a V-twin. Didn't take it as fast as the sport bikes, but still scraped the pegs 3 or 4 times. What a rush! I'm hoping to get to do it again this year......haven't made plans yet on what trips we might take when summer rolls around.

Hey Feeje: That is a low blow to Dana, He already had enough with losing his bike in addition to his broken hands.
In any event his doing better the hands are great and he his riding his Harley, until he recieves his 06 FJR.
Take care, see you in the next EOM
Here is a better picture of Dana

Saw in the news where They are talking about turning the Tail into a Major roadway. If any is going to ride it they should get it done this year. If all the plans go through the Tail will cease to exsist in '07.

The Dragon ROCKS!! About 10 of us went last year and we had the best time ever!! We were all on sportbikes..and no one ended up on the tree of shame! As feeje said Charohola was awesome!! We all stayed at the little hotel at the bottom of the Dragon..if you love roads and travelin this is a must see!

if you were on the Dragon check out "Killboy dot com" there should be pics of you riding you can get from them and are generally pretty good action shots.

Also anyone planning on spending time in the Deals Gap area I highly recommend checking out Cherohalah Skyway, Foothills Parkway, and Waahah (sp?)Road... all are must rides and are some great waterfalls to check out in the area too.